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Insects and spiders make up more than half NZ's animal biodiversity – time to celebrate these spineless creatures
by bpckle | Jan 6, 2023 | Media | 0 comments
Shutterstock/PEnsell Photography
After almost two decades of championing native birds in an annual competition, Aotearoa is going to begin celebrating its spineless creatures this year.
New Zealand is home to more than 20,000 species of insects and spiders, representing well over half of all animal diversity. Many are endemic, which means they have no other home on Earth.
Like Aotearoa's birds, native invertebrates have evolved largely without mammals and have filled many ecological niches taken up by mammals elsewhere. The Entomological Society of New Zealand has launched a Bug of the Year competition to introduce their wonderful diversity.
New Zealand is home to thousands of native insects and spiders, many found nowhere else. Author provided, CC BY-SA
The competition also promotes the power of citizen science through iNaturalistNZ to encourage New Zealanders to contribute simply by posting images of the critters they see flying or crawling around in their own backyards or around Aotearoa, whether that's on the beach, the farm or during an epic tramp up to a mountain peak.
Scientists can use the data from these observations to learn more about the patterns, population sizes and ecology of our unique and sometimes threatened native bugs or new arrivals that might become pests.
Read more: They might not have a spine, but invertebrates are the backbone of our ecosystems. Let's help them out
No life on Earth without invertebrates
Invertebrates are central to the functioning of ecosystems. They are pollinators and decomposers, they aerate soils and control pests while also becoming food for other wildlife. But they remain understudied and underappreciated.
Vagrant spiders are active hunters, often found under logs or stones. Jenny Jandt/iNaturalist observation 79210413
The spider in your pantry might give you a fright, but you may not realise that she's been eating tiny flies and pantry pests. You might have swatted at her or moved her outside where you think she'd be happier. But she was doing just fine in your pantry, and she was doing you a service, too.
New Zealand is home to two species of venomus spiders: the endemic katipō spider (Latrodectus katipo) and the Australian redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti). The odds of finding a venomous spider in a New Zealand home are low, but it's always good to learn what it is before you swat or relocate.
Female wolf spiders (Anoteropsis hilaris) weave their eggs in a ball of silk and keep it close to them until the young hatch. Jenny Jandt/iNaturalist observation 66285476
The invertebrates in the garden – worms, millipedes, spiders – that scuttle towards you when you dig a hole to plant some flowers might be equally scary. But these critters were perfectly happy in that spot before you came along. And they'll settle in once more after you get your flowers in place.
The worms will dive back into the soil, fertilising and aerating it to give your plant's roots a good habitat for growth. The spiders and ants are hunting around for the little bugs that want to eat the flowers you just planted.
If you dig in your ground and find creepy crawlies aplenty, congratulations! You have some fertile soil and your plants will appreciate these tenants that help them get established.
This group of Calliphoria vicina are feeding on some chicken poop. Jenny Jandt/iNaturalist observation 97721605
Flies and wasps landing on your food or drink are annoying. Always check inside the bottle before sipping, as wasps and some fruit flies are attracted to the scent of fermenting fruit. This is the cue they use to find over-ripened fruits in your garden and they'll help you clean them up.
Some flies feed on and/or lay their eggs in chicken or cat poo. While that seems gross, those flies and the larvae that hatch from the eggs are going to clean up that mess.
Meanwhile, big wasps are hunting the pest bugs that are chewing on broccoli and cabbage leaves in your garden, while tiny wasps are looking for aphids and other critters to lay their eggs inside. A lot of these tiny wasps (parasitoid wasps) have been introduced to Aotearoa specifically to target some of our agricultural pest species.
Read more: Scientists need help to save nature. With a smartphone and these 8 tips, we can get our kids on the case
Hover flies (also called flower flies or bee flies), seen here foraging on a strawberry flower, are often mistaken for bees. Jenny Jandt/iNaturalist observation 143389969
We have come to appreciate bees and butterflies for their pollination efforts. But other insects can pollinate, too. For example, there are 37 endemic species of hoverfly in Aotearoa – and even more that have not been described yet. They are often mistaken for bees as they boast yellow and black stripes and are usually seen on flowers. Beetles, wasps and other flies can also be important pollinators for certain flowers and crops.
Native bees are often mistaken for small flies. Jenny Jandt/iNaturalist observation 94890356
Most people recognise the introduced bumble bees and honey bees, but New Zealand's 28 native species of bee (ngaro huruhuru) are often mistaken for small flies. Ngaro huruhuru are tiny, often black or metallic green and mostly solitary. Some nest in groups where each excavates a hole in a clay bank or undisturbed patch of soil to raise their young.
Social bumble bees and honey bees can outnumber solitary bees significantly. Ngaro huruhuru prefer small, open aster-like flowers, many of which we tend to think of as weeds. Dandelions, daisies and ragwort are the most common flowers to find foraging native bees. Ragwort is also attractive to flies and butterflies.
The endemic red admiral (kahukura, Vanessa gonerilla gonerilla) needs stinging nettles to lay its eggs. Jenny Jandt/iNaturalist observation 110643854
Butterflies can look like little fluttering rainbows, adding colour and life to the garden. As adults, they can be important pollinators of flowering plants. However, their larvae (caterpillars) need a host plant. For example, the New Zealand red admiral (kahukura) relies on the native stinging tree nettle (ongaonga), but this is often considered a weed and removed from gardens. This limits opportunities for these beautiful butterflies to reproduce, leading to severe population declines in some regions of the country.
The next time you're in your garden, take a minute to consider the insects and invertebrates occupying the spaces on, under and inside your plants. Post photos on iNaturalistNZ to learn more about them and be sure to check out this year's 24 nominees for Bug of the Year 2023 competition. Voting closes on February 13.
Jennifer Jandt is affiliated with the Entomological Society of New Zealand, a member of the Bug of the Year Committee, and is Editor-in-Chief of the New Zealand Entomologist.


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Blueprint for Dictatorship
by Justin Raimondo Posted on April 30, 2007 August 7, 2009
America is headed for a military dictatorship – and recent legislation makes this all but inevitable. Last September, Congress passed the Defense Authorization Act, which empowered the president to declare martial law with very little provocation, namely in the aftermath of a "terrorist attack or incident." Having determined that "the execution of the laws" is hampered by the "incident," the president can unilaterally impose martial law – without the consent of Congress, which need only be informed of the event "as soon as practicable." The only condition attached instructs the president to report to Congress after 14 days, and every 14 days thereafter.
This use of the military to enforce domestic order is a new development in American history, one that augurs a turning point not only in terms of law, but also in our evolving political culture. Such a measure would once have provoked an outcry – on both sides of the aisle. When the measure passed, there was hardly a ripple of protest: the Senate approved it unanimously, and there were only thirty-something dissenting votes in the House. Added to the Military Commissions Act [.pdf], this new brick in the wall of domestic repression creates the structure of a new imperial system on the ruins of the old constitutional order. George W. Bush and his hard-core neoconservative henchmen may have lost the war in Iraq, but they have won a virtually uncontested victory at home: the conquest of the old republic by an emerging imperial order. This recalls the opening of Garet Garrett's 1952 philippic, Rise of Empire, wherein he diagnosed the essential indeterminacy of the transition:
"We have crossed the boundary that lies between Republic and Empire. If you ask when, the answer is that you cannot make a single stroke between day and night; the precise moment does not matter. There is no painted sign to say: 'You are now entering Imperium.'"
The usually prescient Garrett got it somewhat wrong here: The single stroke between day and night can be fixed precisely in time, at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 11, 2001, and the Military Commissions Act and the disturbing changes in the U.S. Code outlined above are the closest to painted signs we are likely to get. Waiting in the wings, an infamous cabal took advantage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, moving with preternatural speed to consolidate a dictatorship of fear. With the passage of more recent legislation, they are now moving to consolidate their gains. Sinisterly, the new legislation also alters the language of Title 10, Chapter 15, Section 333 of the U.S. Code (the so-called Insurrection Act) in an ominous manner:
"Whenever the president considers it necessary to use the militia or the armed forces under this chapter, he shall, by proclamation, immediately order the insurgents or those obstructing the enforcement of the laws to disperse and retire peaceably to their abodes within a limited time."
Why insert the bolded phrase – unless your objective is to widen the category of miscreants to include those exercising their First Amendment rights? No one expects an insurgency to be launched in this day and age in America, yet peaceably assembling to protest government policies can easily be interpreted to include "obstructionists" who might be "dispersed." As José Padilla discovered, any American can be kidnapped and held without trial – or even formal charges – on the orders of the president, and the granting of unprecedented power to rule by decree builds on this neo-royalist theory. The Bushian doctrine of the "unitary executive," which gives the occupant of the White House monarchical power in wartime, has now been approved by the Democrats, who can't wait to wield it themselves. Of course, they would exercise such unholy power only in a good way – say, if a state refused to cooperate in enforcing or implementing federal legislation instituting a draft, or, more likely, federalizing a state National Guard unit to be shipped to the Middle East.
Oh, you mean that's not so good? Just wait until the Democrats get their hands on all that power: then you'll see the real collapse of the movement to preserve civil liberties in America. Remember, it was Hillary Clinton who said of the Internet: "We are all going to have to rethink how we deal with this, because there are always competing values. There's no free decision that I'm aware of anywhere in life, and certainly with technology that's the case." Yes, the technology is very "exciting," she averred, yet "there are a number of serious issues without any kind of editing function or gatekeeping function. What does it mean to have the right to defend your reputation, or to respond to what someone says?"
The First Amendment is not big with Hillary and never has been. She's power-mad, and every once in a while the frigid mask gives way to the face of a real authoritarian, albeit a different one than that of the red-state fascists, as Lew Rockwell describes the anti-libertarian Right. Blue-state fascists trample on our civil liberties "for the children," but the effect is the same: bipartisan support for the abolition of our old republic and the inauguration of a new era in American history: the Age of Empire.
With the neoconized "conservative" movement transformed into a force fully committed to outright authoritarianism, and the "liberals" defending the depredations of the Democrats in power, who will be left to defend what's left of the Constitution? Just Ron Paul and Alexander Cockburn. The rest will go with the herd instinct of sheep threatening to stampede at the apparent intrusion of a wolf in their pasture.
Under the terms of this legislation, who defines a terrorist "incident"? The president. Who defines an "unlawful combination"? The president. Who determines that a "conspiracy" is in progress, one that threatens national security and domestic order? The president of these United States – which are to be united, in our darkest future, by a superpresident who can outlaw the opposition with the stroke of a pen and is more a military leader than the chief executive of an ostensible republic.
Stop, for a moment, and consider where we are in the spring of 2007.
On the home front, the representatives of the people have conceded the last of their waning powers to the executive branch and paved the way for the restoration of royalism in America. Overseas, American troops are fighting a war of conquest – there is no other way to describe it – in an effort to prop up a rapidly failing puppet government in the Middle East. Meanwhile, U.S. forces are gathering in the Persian Gulf for what looks to be a strike against Iran.
The unpopularity of our foreign policy is increasingly a cause for concern in the Imperial City, where both parties have colluded – with surprisingly little dissent – in ensuring a permanent U.S. military presence in the Middle East. It is merely a question of the size of our footprint that divides the two major parties on this all-important question. The Democrats want to "redeploy" – to Qatar and other neighboring countries. The Republicans won't give up an inch of conquered Iraqi territory and instead want to extend the battle into Iran, which is already the target of a not-so-covert campaign aiming at "regime change." (The Iran Freedom Support Act, authorizing millions in aid to "democratic" groups, was supported by the leadership of both parties in Congress.)
Rising antiwar sentiment worries William F. Buckley Jr., who opines that "There are grounds for wondering whether the Republican Party will survive this dilemma." Given the authoritarian proclivities of the Bush administration and the neoconized GOP, there are grounds for wondering whether the republic will survive. We are just a terrorist "incident," either real or imagined, away from a declaration of martial law and all its attendant consequences. Buckley grimly notes the polls are "savagely decisive" on the war question, and he asks: "Beyond affirming executive supremacy in matters of war, what is George Bush going to do?" The answer may be contained in Title 10, Chapter 15, Section 333.
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.) are sponsoring legislation that would repeal the changes, but, as Sen. John Warner pointed out the other day, when the Insurrection Act was revised to give the president extraordinary powers, no one raised any objection. Now, suddenly, the senators, including Warner, see some reason to regret their hasty actions – do they know something we don't?
I fear, however, that it may be too late. Bush will surely veto the Leahy-Bond measure – and, if necessary, declare America's governors, who all oppose this brazen usurpation, an "unlawful combination," as the Insurrection Act puts it. Then he will be empowered to "disperse" them, and the Senate, at will.
I'm back to Garet Garrett, who never fails to come up with some apt aphoristic prognostication, this one being from his classic The Revolution Was:
"There are those who still think they are holding the pass against a revolution that may be coming up the road. But they are gazing in the wrong direction. The revolution is behind them. It went by in the Night of Depression, singing songs to freedom."
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In August, 1985, Sheik Zayed, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, paid a visit to North Yemen, where members of his tribe had lived more than 1,000 years ago. He made a point of touring the desolate northeast of the country, where lie the ruins of the Marib dam, which at one time irrigated hundreds of square miles. Marib is now part of the Empty Quarter, the vast and inhospitable desert that stretches into Saudi Arabia.
But, around 100 BC, it was a different story. From Marib, the Queen of Sheba ruled one of the world's biggest empires in the shadow of a dam that irrigated land known locally as "the garden of god implanted on earth." Her empire was founded on a Yemeni monopoly on the frankincense trade. When fashions changed, the trade collapsed and with it the Yemeni empire and the Marib dam. Tribes from the region scattered throughout the Gulf and nearly 2,000 years later were the principal beneficiaries of a new boom, this time in oil. Sheik Zayed's sentimental journey resulted in a gift of $150 million to the North Yemenis to restore the Marib dam and make the desert bloom once again.
This story illustrates two key influences on the Arabs today: A strong sense of history, first, and then, enormous wealth. Both are central to understanding the modern Arabs, and yet the former has been almost totally ignored by the West, while the latter has been used as a reason for producing one of the most deceitful and dangerous stereotypes current in the media and politics today.
There are rare occasions when a serious attempt is made to look behind the facade, to strip away the propaganda and to examine the Arab world, a fragmented empire that today includes 168 million people in 18 countries covering 4.46 million square miles, an area 25% larger than the United States. David Lamb's latest book, "The Arabs," is the most recent and perhaps the best effort to examine the Middle East using a mixture of anecdote, description and analysis to bring the region to life.
For four years, Lamb was the Middle East correspondent of the Los Angeles Times, based in Cairo. While there, he earned a fine reputation covering a complex and faction-ridden beat with authority and balance.
Although Lamb rightly spends some time describing Arab history, he points out that it was not until 1973, when the Arabs united to impose an oil embargo on the West in retaliation for its supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War, that the Arabs came to the attention of the world. This new awareness was born of the explosion in oil prices and the simultaneous arrival of Palestinian terrorism. For the ordinary citizen in the West, the Arabs swiftly became identified with increased prices at the pumps and with the bombings and assassinations that occurred with frightening regularity, often in the name of the Palestine Liberation Organization. This simplistic image was much less than the whole truth and played into the hands of Israeli propagandists who have continued to use it to drive a wedge between the Arabs and the Western democracies.
But, the Arabs have contributed to their own problems. Unimaginable wealth brought almost intolerable pressures on the social and religious fabric of peoples who, for centuries, had lived a simple existence in the desert. For many individuals, wealth brought a fleet of Rolls-Royces, gambling extravaganzas at Monte Carlo and homes in the fashionable Western resort decorated in the most gaudy style. Some countries, such as Aman, in less than a decade were brought out of a feudal existence where there was no running water, no electricity, telephones or doctors (all considered symbols of Western corruption) to a modern existence with all the trappings of a Western life style.
Running through this personal or national adjustment is the conservative influence of Islam, which has been a consistent source of tension between those who want to face up to a new world and those who fear the disintegration of tradition and family life. For a religion that has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years and has been the guiding force for nations, families and individuals for generations, it is natural that any adjustment would be painful. But, as Lamb points out, what is particularly disturbing is the growing influence of those who wish to see a return to the old ways and a rejection of Western influence. This has spawned the Iranian revolution and a new generation of terrorism, which operates under the banner of Islam and has already committed atrocities on an unprecedented scale.
But, amid all the change and current uncertainty, there are grounds for optimism. Lamb recounts individual and national success stories that have produced an industrial complex that has diversified beyond dependence on oil; a new moderation that favors conciliation with Israel; and, above all, a greater understanding of the Western World. With the aid of books like this, it is possible that, in time, understanding may be reciprocated.


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Larissa Dos Santos Lima: I'm All Done with Domestic Violence!
By Max / Published on Saturday, 02 Jan 2021 14:50 PM / No Comments / 18 views
Larissa Dos Santos Lima isn't just leaving 2020 in the rearview mirror.
The 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? alum says she's leaving her violent and law-breaking past back where it belongs as well.
Just before the calendar flipped and we all got to bid farewell to the worst year in historry, Lima signed on to Instagram and provided followers with an important life update.
"Wow! Soon, it will be two years since my last DV [domestic violence] arrest," she wrote, adding:
"How happy I am to let down all those people that said I would get in trouble again. My arrest record has been wiped clean."
By adding the hashtag #NoContact, Lima strongly applied she hasn't spoken at all during this time period with her ex-husband, Colt Johnson.
The Brazil native initially appeared on season 6 of 90 Day Fiancé with her then-husband. She was arrested twice in 2018 for domestic battery, although the charges were eventually dismissed both times.
Dos Santos Lima, however, found herself in legal trouble again in January of 2019 when she was arrested and charged with first-degree domestic battery after yet another dispute with Johnson.
This one prompted him to file for divorce.
A judge ultimately reduced that first-degree domestic abuse charge to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct for Larissa.
Just a few months ago, Lima was fired by TLC following all these run-ins with the law, along with a questionable partnership with an adult web cam company.
"Dear Friends and Followers, I want to make a statement for you," wrote Lima in September, emphasizing that this would be her "final" word on the topic and adding:
"I'm no longer a cast member of the show 90 Day Fiance.
"Because of my show with CamSoda, I was released from my contract with TLC by phone the day before ICE arrested me."
Lima concluded at the time by showing gratitude to her supporters and vowing to remain in their lives via a number of different online avenues.
"I will continue producing content for my official channels on Instagram, OnlyFans and Youtube. Thanks for your understanding, love and attention," she wrote.
One year ago, meanwhile, Lima revealed she had completed six months of domestic violence classes, telling In Touch Weekly that she was feeling "accomplished" after paying off her fines, doing classes and completing her community service hours.
"We are very happy with the result of Larissa's case," her attorney, Adam M. Vander Heyden, told this tabloid in a statement at the time.
These days, Lima earns money from her many thirst traps on social media, while continually showing off her plastic surgery enhancement on Instagram and other platforms.
She's single and, presumably, ready to mingle.
But not ready to rumble.
Not ever again, we hope.
The Hollywood Gossip
Tagged as: Domestic Done Larissa Lima Santos violence
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Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence entered March 29, 2017, in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Criminal Division, at No(s): CP-02-CR-0006852-2015, CP-02-CR-0016587-2014.
BEFORE: BOWES, J. OLSON, J. and KUNSELMAN, J.
Appellant, Che Donte King, appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed at two different dockets, after he pled guilty to various drug charges and to a car accident involving death/personal injury and related offenses. In the one case, Appellant struck a pedestrian, Albert Kruszka, on Pittsburgh's South Side; after pausing briefly upon impact, Appellant sped away from the scene. Several days later, Mr. Kruszka died due to the collision. Because the trial judge did not abuse his discretion or commit an error of law in resentencing, we affirm.
After Appellant pled guilty to the charges, the trial court originally imposed an aggregate sentence of 5-10 years of imprisonment, followed by three years' probation. Appellant timely appealed. The trial court appointed defense counsel to represent Appellant on appeal. In that appeal, defense counsel argued that one of the individual sentences exceeded the statutory maximum. We agreed, vacated the sentence, and remanded for a new sentencing hearing. (Commonwealth v. King, 159 A.3d 600 (Pa. Super. 2016) (unpublished memorandum).
I will be in your court room on March 29th, along with my sons , for the resentencing hearing of Che King, a career criminal who killed my husband, Albert Kruszka. I have been told that you sentenced King illegally - considering your knowledge and expertise, this offends my intelligence. Furthermore, [defense counsel] is lining his pockets with taxpayer dollars defending a confessed criminal. Mr. King has waited for March 29, two days after the statute of limitations for further charges. He has a long history of drug use, drug sales, driving without a license, and blatant disregard for the law. Only three [days] before killing my husband, King was stopped in Fayette county. My sons would still have their father if he had been detained. Our lives have been permanently changed for the worst due to this man's recklessness. The penitentiary system gets its name from an act of contrition - Mr. King must pay his penance within the prison system. This is his time to reflect upon the wrongs of his ways, not plot a way out of punishment, so that he can return to a life of crime. He has not been ordered to pay restitution. With the opioid epidemic costing innocent people their lives, this convicted, confessed heroin dealer has a drug conviction running concurrent with his accidental death conviction. I ask that you consider placing these two sentences consecutively, or for his original sentencing to stay in place. Myself and my sons respectfully request that you aid us in our healing and our journey towards forgiveness by keeping this man off the street as long as possible - and keeping myself, my family and the community safe.
Letter from Mrs. Kruszka (emphasis added).
The trial court overruled counsel's objections and admitted the letter into evidence. The trial court then restructured the sentence to make it legal, and ultimately imposed the same total sentence on Appellant. This second timely appeal followed. Appellant argues that the trial judge erred and/or abused his discretion by considering irrelevant factors during the resentencing.
Appellant challenges the discretionary aspects of his sentence. Such a challenge is not appealable as of right. Rather, Appellant must petition for allowance of appeal pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9781. Commonwealth v. Hanson, 856 A.2d 1254 (Pa. Super. 2004). When an Appellant challenges a discretionary aspect of sentencing, we must conduct a four-part analysis before we reach the merits of the Appellant's claim. Commonwealth v. Allen, 24 A.3d 1059, 1064 (Pa. Super. 2011). In this analysis, we must determine: (1) whether the present appeal is timely; (2) whether the issue raised on appeal was properly preserved; (3) whether Appellant has filed a statement pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f); and (4) whether Appellant has raised a substantial question that his sentence is not appropriate under the Sentencing Code. Id.
Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal, and properly preserved his claim in a post-sentence motion. Additionally, Appellant has complied with Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f). See Appellant's Brief at 21-22. We must therefore determine whether Appellant has raised a substantial question for our review.
In this case, the sentencing court overruled the objections of defense counsel to permit a victim impact statement into evidence, which had disparaging remarks against defense counsel. Disparaging remarks against defense counsel are not, nor can they ever be, considered proper victim impact statement material. The acceptance of disparaging remarks against defense counsel are irrelevant and violative of 18 P.S. §11.201(5) and 42 Pa.C.S. § 9738 as well as the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 1, Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution. The appeal should be granted in this case. See Commonwealth v. Penrod, 578 A.2d 486, 490 (Pa. Super. 1990).
We interpret the arguments in Appellant's Rule 2119(f) statement essentially to assert that in sentencing Appellant, the trial court considered improper factors. This claim raises a substantial question. Commonwealth v. Tobin, 89 A.3d 663, 666 (Pa. Super 2014).
The standard employed when reviewing the discretionary aspects of sentencing is very narrow. Commonwealth v. Koren, 646 A.2d 1205, 1208 (Pa. Super. 1994). We may reverse only if the sentencing court abused its discretion or committed an error of law. Id. Merely erring in judgment is insufficient to constitute abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. Smith, 673 A.2d 893, 895 (Pa. 1996). A court has only abused its discretion when "the record disclosed that the judgment exercised was manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill-will." Id.


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The Constitutions of Ohio: Amendments, and Proposed Amendments, Including ...
Por Isaac Franklin Patterson, Ohio
ready in force in the original states, nor again were the people of this territory entirely careful to observe the directions of the Ordinance as to time and manner of forming a state government.
It happened very naturally that the Ordinance contained a large number of the theories and doctrines that were believed and practiced before 1787 as well as since that time. The principles of polity incorporated in the Ordinance of 1787 were the direct results of centuries of Anglo-Saxon civilization. The legislative proceedings of the state in general show little evidence of respect for the Ordinance, while in many cases, especially in the earlier history, the General Assembly enacted laws and adopted resolutions entirely at variance with any supposed authority contained in the Ordinance.
The second division of the State's constitutional history covers a period of about forty years, beginning with 1802. It may be characterized as the period during which the people of the state were lacking in social consciousness – perhaps state consciousness would express it better. Before the formation of the state the men and influences which controlled the national government had changed. Indeed the creation of the state was hastened for the purpose of strengthening the party which had overthrown the Federalist power. The ideas of the Democratic - Republican Party were readily adopted by a large part of the people of this new state. Some of them had come from New England, some from New York and Pennsylvania, and many of them had come from states farther south. They had fought for the independence of the United States, but they had not fought for Ohio. Their new home was something separate and apart from the colonies for whose freedom they had made sacrifices. The struggle to win homes from the savages and the forests sufficed to dim the memory of earlier struggles to secure political freedom for the strip of seaboard that now seemed so far away. Within less than twenty years after the formation of the new state, it denied the authority of the National Government and passed acts of nullification that indicated less respect for Federal authority than did even those of South Carolina a dozen years later. During these same twenty years, nevertheless, Ohio, time after time, appealed to the National Congress for assistance in building roads and opening up communication. These things were not so inconsistent as they may seem. The acts of nullification were not because the people of Ohio believed in states' rights. They believed in individual rights and resented the authority that attempted to interfere with such rights. They asked for help in building roads because they needed roads, not because Ohio wanted national aid. Ohio was to them a place, not a state. They were not yet conscious of the state. The needs of the individual and the present were the dominant ideas. The future of the commonwealth and community of interests had no place in their thoughts.
The state government which they had formed was entirely consonant with this view of their relation to government. They realized, it is true, that there were some essentials the individual does not possess which some individual or group of individuals can furnish him. They could not all meet together and barter rights and privileges, so they selected representatives to meet other representatives in a General Assembly, to haggle, dicker, and bargain to secure individual and special advantages and privileges for those who had sent them. Quite often the interested individual secured his own election to carry out his personal interests.
The people had no use for any central authority. They had provided and tolerated a nominal governor but he was stripped of power. A judiciary seemed necessary to confirm the bargains made by the representatives, and other officials were needed to deliver the goods bartered. The natural thing was to have the representatives in the General Assembly select the judges and other officials. Thus practically all the powers of government were centered in the legislature.
During the first decade of the state's history under the Constitution of 1802, the General Assembly devoted much of its attention to incorporating banks, authorizing lotteries, relieving individuals, granting divorces, and providing punishment for recognized crimes and devising and naming new ones. During the second decade the work of the legislature was largely that of incorporating turnpikes, toll-roads, toll-bridges, and ferries. These never ceased to be favorite subjects of legislation during the period covered by the first Constitution. The third decade was characterized largely by canal legislation and this reached well over into the fourth decade, although this last decade was particularly the period of railway incorporation and legislation.
Roads and bridges were absolutely necessary, so the natural thing was to have monopolized toll-roads, tollbridges, and ferries, by which the individual with an agent in the legislature could extract in a more or less painless manner the money he wanted from those who must use these means of transportation. Later, railroads were dealt with in like manner. To the enterprising citizens of that day even this form of parasitism seemed crude and inadequate. Why waste good money in building railroads? Why not have other people build them and collect from the state and county treasuries the necessary funds in the form of aids and subsidies? The plan looked good and they tried it; but it made it necessary for the individual to pay taxes into the state treasury, and the man who collected the fares and the tolls was liable to accumulate more property than he could conveniently conceal; so a simpler plan was worked out. It was to have the state borrow the money and turn it over to the promoter of the railroad in the form of subscriptions and guarantees. The monopolist then graciously waited for his money until he could collect fares; or, if he were in a great hurry, turned contractor and hired himself to build the road. This made the matter very simple indeed.
The third period in the state's history began about the fifth decade under the Constitution of 1802. It was the period when the people awakened to consciousness of the state and that the state was a unit of the individuals. This consciousness came about largely as the result of the mad rush to rob the state treasury and heap up debts to be paid by generations yet unborn. There had been no method devised for borrowing money without paying interest. If the needed sum could have been borrowed in the state, all might have gone well for a time. The debt amounted to almost twenty millions and foreign bondholders held most of the stocks and bonds. When interest was paid it left the state. To pay more than a million dollars in interest each year meant that the people in Ohio were toiling to support the people not living in Ohio. Out of this grew the realization that the people had interests in common. The debt must not be allowed to grow larger. Plans were prepared for actually paying it. But the greed of privileged individuals and the special interests had not changed. They still had their legislative methods for getting money and while such remained the people could not stop the waste under the old Constitution.
Finally the demand for relief grew so strong that, in 1849, the legislature was compelled to allow the people to vote on the question of making a new Constitution. It carried, and the convention met. What should it do? All power had been centralized in the legislature, which had become the pliant tool of individual greed. Among the traditions of the state was the danger of putting power into the hands of an executive. The only remedy that seemed to suggest itself was to keep the power in the hands of the legislature, and then tie its hands. In stopping the wild debauch of the treasury, and tying the hands of the agents of the privileged interests the people became welded into a real commonwealth.
Let it not be thought that the privileged and special interests gave up easily. They died hard, and a few of those, fostered under the old Constitution, still live. As early as 1833 the work of the General Assembly for one year was represented by the passage of two hundred and fifty local laws and only thirty general laws. But the local acts and resolutions passed by the General Assembly of 1849 (the one that submitted to the people the question of holding a constitutional convention) fill seven hundred and forty-six pages of the Laws of Ohio for that year, and include seventy-five acts relating to plank roads, sixty-seven to railroads, and seventy-eight to turnpikes. The legislature of 1851, the one in session


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Not a Book Snob
Mysteries, Thrillers and More
A Crimson Warning
I had almost given up on this series after the two most recent books, but I am really glad that I decided to give it one last try with A CRIMSON WARNING. Lady Emily is back on her own turf in London society, and back to being her clever, feisty, reckless self. The two books set in Constantinople and in France with her harridan of a mother-in-law just didn't work for me.
Crimson paint is being splashed on the houses of some of London's wealthiest and influential citizens, followed quickly by the exposure of scandals. Even though a man so victimized by the paint has also been horribly murdered, the "ton" is much more afraid of scandal than death. The Queen asks Colin Hargreaves, Emily's husband, to investigate and put an end to the pervasive atmosphere of fear abroad in the city. Emily of course becomes fully involved and proves again that she is an equal partner with Colin. They are convinced that the crimes and scandals are the product of rage at being slighted and a wish for revenge. But could it be even more sinister and who is the perpetrator? Even Ivy, Emily's closest and most gentle friend, has a secret that must be kept.
The path that they follow has many twists and turns, with code-breaking and many a trip to the British Museum and Library. I had settled on my candidate for the crimes early on instinct alone, but was misdirected by Alexander very neatly. It takes one more innocent death to solve the crimes and to see that Hargreaves doorstep defaced as well. Many of the characters we have met before reappear in A CRIMSON WARNING, and a host of new ones, all either eccentric, shallow or dangerous. A CRIMSON WARNING is very ingenious and entertaining- Welcome Back, Lady Emily!
Rating- 4 Stars
Posted by omnireader at 5:16 PM No comments:
Labels: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Back to the Iron Seas in Airships
Heart of Steel
A Novel of the Iron Seas
Meljean Brook
Following the first book in Meljean Brook's Iron Seas series, Heart of Steel continues the adventures of two characters from the Iron Duke, Archimedes Fox and Yasmeen, mercenary airship captain. Archimedes Fox is an adventurer specializing in retrieval of antiquities lost in territories infected by the zombie plague. He is also the hero of "pulp" novels written by his sister, Zenobia. The mysterious Yasmeen is not only one of the few female airship captains, but is one tough cookie- the "heart of steel" of the title. She kicked Archimedes out of her airship into a zombie infested Venetian canal. Needless to say, Archimedes fell madly in love with her at that instant (even though he doesn't quite know it)! She kicked him off the ship, but kept an unknown Leonardo Da Vinci sketch that he had salvaged.
The action starts when Yasmeen goes to see Zenobia- not only to report the probable death of her brother, but to offer her a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the sketch. When she arrives, she finds Zenobia held hostage. The existence of the sketch has somehow become public and lots of people want it. Including Archimedes who needs it to repay a debt, one that will cost him his life if not repaid. Archimedes and Yasmeen join forces and the great adventures begin. Yazmeen loses her hard won fortune and her beloved airship, Lady Corsair, along with her crew but gains much more.
I can't even attempt to describe the intricate world that Meljean Brook has built in the Iron Seas series. I can only recommend that you begin with the Iron Duke and follow up with Heart of Steel. High adventure, steampunk gadgets, zombies and romance make Iron Seas a must-read. I really cringed at the cover of the book and the audio book, but managed to ignore its general cheesiness. There is plenty of lusty romance here, but I personally enjoyed the adventure more. My only quibble was that the various scrapes and dilemmas of Archimedes and Yasmeen seemed too easily resolved. One expects a book like this to have a happy ending, but it just was a little too neatly done. Otherwise, I highly recommend Heart of Steel as a fast-paced, enjoyable escapist read. The audio book is very competently performed by Faye Adele
Rating 4 Airships
Labels: Romance, Steampunk
An Incredible Romp through Victorian London (Steampunk Style)
The Immorality Engine
Newbury and Hobbes Investigations
George Mann
The third in George Mann's Newbury and Hobbes Investigations Steampunk series is great fun from beginning to end. Sir Maurice Newbury, Queen Victoria's agent, is continuing to sink into his opium addiction, much to the dismay of his great friend, Sir Charles Bainbridge of Scotland Yard. Still more distressed is Sir Maurice's assistant Miss Veronica Hobbes.
When the body of a suspected jewel thief turns up murdered in one of the seedier sections of London, yet robberies identical to to the corpse's earlier crimes are still happening, Sir Maurice must rise to the occasion. Bainbridge and Hobbes must literally drag him out of an opium den. To add to the mystery of the corpse, there also seems to be a threat to the life of the Queen.
The plot includes clairvoyants, clones, a wacky resurrection cult, spectacular war engines in the best Steampunk tradition, and a vision of Queen Victoria that is truly creepy. Kept alive by the machines of the the diabolical Dr. Fabian, she sits like a spider in the web of her own mad plots and deceits. Newbury and Hobbes are forced to decide whether their loyalty has been misplaced.
The Immorality Engine completes the first story arc of the series and I can hardly wait for the next installment of the Newbury and Hobbes investigations. I would, however, recommend reading The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual before diving into The Immorality Engine. While Mann does a great job of bringing us up to speed, the first two books help build the world and characters. The Newbury and Hobbes Investigations are a great blend of mystery, horror, steampunk and a little romance.
Rating- 5 Opium Pipes
Labels: Steampunk
The Black Dagger Brotherhood-Paranormal Romance on Steroids
The Black Dagger Brotherhood, a mega-selling mass-market Paranormal Romance series by J.R. Ward is a publishing phenomenon. These books sell like the proverbial hotcakes. As of this writing, there are ten books published and more to come. Ward has brewed a heady mixture of the standard Gothic Romance conventions- tortured hero, female in jeopardy, suspense, adventure, hero redeemed by love for same female in jeopardy- added in large doses of somewhat kinky erotica and violence and put the whole mess on a steroid regimen- with vampires!
The basic premise is this- the vampires of mythical Caldwell, NY are a separate species, not at all the undead but pretty much immortal, at least until someone slaughters them. A centuries long war with a group called the Lessening Society is being fought to save the vampire race. Enter the Black Dagger Brotherhood, lethal, mega-sized, leather-clad, trash-talking, booted and vice-ridden vampires who battle the evil Lessors, who really aren't all that scary, especially since they are colorless and smell like baby powder(?). No kidding. You want tortured heroes with hideous childhoods-these brothers are the ones for you. But they mate for life and are redeemed by the women they love. Well, not really, but they do cut down on their self-destructive behaviors and come to terms with their various hideous childhoods.
I really don't know how I stumbled across the first book in the series, Dark Lover, but to say that I was underwhelmed is an understatement. First of all, I laughed my way through the glossary of terms that appears at the beginning and does so in every book. I'm still snorting my way through that glossary. Then, there are the names of the original brothers: Wrath, Rhage, Zsadist, Vishous, Phury and Tohrment. Are you seeing a pattern here? Throw in some extraneous letters- they still sound the same. After the original six brothers are dealt with in the series, we have Rehvenge, Dhestroyer and John Matthew (huh?). As the series progresses, female warriors have been added, along with a quasi-religious and social system that is mired somewhere circa 1174. The most recent entry introduces a cadre of Slayers from Europe who are even more anti-social than the original Brothers. I counted Dark Lover as a waste of good trees. However, I kept hearing buzz and decided that I must have missed something. No, not really.
So, after my snide comments-why am I still reading them? Well, I don't really know. Despite the names, the weak world-building, the egregious "branding" sprinkled throughout each book, the street lingo that I can't believe is spoken anywhere on this planet and the general silliness, I am hooked. Enough to download them free from the library, anyway. In spite of, or maybe because of all their faults these books are oddly compelling. Ward is one heck of a story-teller and the Black Dagger books have a breakneck narrative flow that just drags you with it. The best analogy I can come up with is the compulsion to rubber-neck a traffic accident. It's a guilty pleasure and so is the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
Labels: Paranormal romance
New York to Dallas
J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts)
Putnam Adult
Number 33 (!) in J.D. Robb's (Nora Roberts) IN DEATH series is a departure in both title and location for this long-running, bestselling series. I have been a sucker for this series since the beginning and look forward to each new release. In fact, it is a must have on the day of release for me, despite the fact that I found the last three or four to not quite measure up to the previous books. New York to Dallas is a home run, however, and I think I can put my fears to rest about the series winding down. Thirty-three novels in one series is pretty amazing but then Nora Roberts is amazingly prolific.
Eve is summoned to Dallas to engage in a battle of wits with Isaac McQueen, a violent pedophile known as "The Collector". Eve put him away twelve years earlier when she was still a rookie beat cop in New York. Somehow, McQueen has managed to escape and kidnap one of the girls that Eve rescued from his "collection". McQueen wants payback and to outwit her this time around. As any reader of the series knows, the city of Dallas has great significance to Eve. She was given the name last name Dallas when she was found wandering there as an 8 year old. Beaten and abused, she had no memory of her own name. Eve has been dealing with the issues left from her horrific childhood throughout the series. This time, she is back in Dallas dealing with those issues (and a very big one gets wrapped up in New York to Dallas), along with the politics of working with an unknown police force and without her usual assorted New York back-up. Of course, she has her husband, Roarke. I can only say that every woman should have back-up like Roarke!
New York to Dallas is an emotional roller coaster ride, suspenseful and well-plotted. While I missed the characters I know so well, Peabody, Feeney, Mavis, and Somerset, who were not present for the bulk of the action, there were enough new characters to keep me interested. Isaac McQueen is an evil psychopath who needs to be taken down, and Eve is just the woman to do it. I have listened to, rather than read all the In Death series. Susan Erickson is a superlative narrator and pitch perfect for all the characters. Very highly recommended, with the warning that this book is not the one to start the series with.
Rating- 5 NYPSD badges
Labels: Audio Books, Futuristic, Thriller
The Always Surprising Carina Press
I usually hesitate to blog about books that are only available in electronic form, but Carina Press is publishing some extraordinarily good books at very reasonable prices. The very first downloaded book I read from Carina about a year ago was Presumed Dead by Shirley Wells, an English author who has several books published in the U.K., but not so widely available in the U.S. I was really impressed by Presumed Dead, first in the Dylan Scott Mysteries, and it is now also available in a print version.
In Presumed Dead, Dylan Scott is having a very bad patch in his life, disgraced, imprisoned on a charge of excessive force and losing his career in the London Police Force as a detective. Not only that, he is nearly penniless, booted out by his wife and living in "the smallest flat in the land". When he is approached by Holly Champion, a young woman in Lancashire obsessed by the disappearance of her mother thirteen years earlier, he really has no choice but to take on the case.
Dylan is generally clueless about personal relationships and his marital situation, but he is nothing if not dogged in the pursuit of answers. Presumed Dead is a very well constructed mystery with a nice balance of procedural and personal life. The characters are memorable and the mystery is solved neatly with a number of surprises.
The second book in the Dylan Scott Mysteries, Dead Silent, is just as enjoyable. Dylan is going on with his life, and after his success in the Champion investigation is once again hired to investigate a missing person case in Dawson's Clough in Lancashire. Sam Hunt, an attractive young woman, has been missing for ten months and Dylan is hired by her father to find her. Before he even arrives in Lancashire, he gets warned off and beaten up by a tough. After meeting Sam's father, Dylan feels that something is definitely "off". His impression grows even stronger after meeting her mother and stepfather.
The case of Sam Hunt has far-reaching consequences, as far away as Romania and the Orkney Islands. I find Dylan's investigative methods extremely realistic- Dylan just keeps on and doesn't give up until he gets the answers. He is a man with a strong sense of right and nothing deters him. in Dead Silent, his personal life is on an upswing, even though the estrangement from his wife is still unresolved and his aging hippie mother is still living with him.
I highly recommend Presumed Dead and Dead Silent to fans of Peter Robinson's Inspector Alan Banks novels, and anyone who enjoys atmospheric British mysteries with a little edge.
Labels: British, Mystery
Want witty and charming? Try Tom Violet
Domestic Violets
Matthew Norman
Domestic Violets has been on my TBR list (compliments of netgalley.com) so I decided to read it this Hurricane Irene weekend. To be honest, I had read a few pages earlier but was put off by the beginning, which features an episode of erectile dysfunction. Call me a fuddy-duddy, but I tend to think erectile dysfunction belongs neither in a book I want to read, nor as ads placed in televised golf matches! Despite a slow start, I soon found myself chuckling and caught up in Tom's various dilemmas.
Tom Violets thought his life would be perfect by the age of 35, full of fame, fortune and success. Instead, he is trapped in a soul-destroying copy writing job for a company that doesn't do anything that can be quantified, which Tom refers to as the "Death Star". He has an inappropriate crush on his cute young assistant, and his marriage is on shakier ground than even he imagines. Even the family dog has an anxiety disorder. Tom has a finished novel sitting in a desk drawer, but since his father is a "real" celebrated novelist this,too, is problematic. Then his father wins a Pulitzer, another in a long line of literary prizes, it sets off a whole chain of events that Tom stumbles, and often trips, through.
Other reviewers have called Domestic Violets hilarious. I don't go that far, but I found it witty, clever and charming- and very poignant in its look at unrealized expectations and dysfunctional family dynamics. My major laughs came from Tom's snarky comments about the emptiness of American Corporate culture and the publishing industry, which gives a book contract to Snooki of Jersey Shore, and lets real writers languish. No "hook" no book!
Tom Violet is a great character, bright, funny and subversive. His moral compass may be a mite skewed, but his heart is pure. The cast is vivid and fully realized, from famous father Curtis Violet (a Norman Mailer-esque figure but with loads more charm), to Tom's equally conflicted wife, to Curtis' latest whack-job ex-wife, to Katie, Tom's assistant.
By the book's end, Tom's life has completely changed, at least in all the ways it should have. Essentially, Tom has grown up. In fact, I see Domestic Violets as a coming of age tale, with a couple of satisfactory twists at the end. Domestic Violets is one of the best reads I've had in a long time and I look forward to more of Matthew Norman's work. Highly recommended!
Rating 5 Stars
Posted by omnireader at 7:43 AM No comments:
Labels: Fiction
No Sophomore Slump For Charley Davidson and Darynda Jones!
Darynda Jones
Product Description-When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can't help but wonder what Cookie's up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman's name. Mimi's husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message.
Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He's left his body because he's being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can't let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they'll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let's just say it wouldn't be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do?
Once again I have to thank the folks at St. Martins Press for an advance look at Second Grave on the Left. Charley hits the ground running, juggling multiple cases in this outing: Cookie's missing friend, Reyes' missing body, demons, a 20 year old case of a missing girl, her father's odd behavior, and last but not least, the dead guy in Cookie's trunk. The action is fast and furious, and the humor never falters. Charley has abilities she never even imagined, and she needs all of them to get through the most chaotic week of her life. Never does she lose her ability for the quick verbal comeback though!
Most of the characters from First Grave on the Right are back, some good and some definitely bad. Reyes is alluring and enigmatic as always. I often don't get his motivations, but neither does Charley. This lack of understanding leads to a cliffhanger at the end of Second Grave but I trust we won't have to wait too long for Third Grave Dead Ahead. Darynda Jones deftly avoids "sophomore slump" in this second entry. Highly recommended!
Rating- 4 Scythes
Labels: Urban Fantasy
Those Who Hunt the Night
Barbara Hambly
Those Who Hunt the Night was another great find at netgalley.com and comes from Open Road Media. It is the beginning book in the James Asher Series by Barbara Hambly. James Asher is an Oxford Don who is also a veteran of the "Great Game" of British espionage. After retiring, disgusted by the actions he has been expected to take in service to Queen and Country, he has married Lydia, a young woman he has loved for years and settled down to a peaceful life in Oxford, or so he thinks. Upon returning home one evening he finds his household staff and Lydia deep in unnatural sleep, and a vampire waiting in his study. Don Simon, an ancient Spanish vampire wants James to find out who is killing the vampires of London, and the life of both James and Lydia hang in the balance.
No sparkling, sexy vampires here! Most of the London vampires are evil creatures, steeped in blood and death. Don Simon is more enigmatic, appearing to retain at least a sense of honor. But, even if James and Lydia succeed-will he let them live with their knowledge of the reality of vampires?
Set in the first decade of the 20th century, this is a very atmospheric and thrilling vampire tale. Also, I find it refreshing to get back to the more traditional idea of vampires, beings who have lived so long, they are not even remotely human. There is also a sense that the life of a vampire is no bargain, truly more of an endless existence than anything to be sought out.
Those Who Hunt the Night is a tightly plotted and often frightening story with characters that are well-rounded, characters that I came to care about. I enjoyed it greatly-so much that I plan to start Book 2 (Traveling With the Dead) right away despite my ginormous TBR pile.
Check out this video from Open Road about and with Barbara Hambly.
http://www.openroadmedia.com/authors/barbara-hambly.aspx
Rating- 4 bats
Labels: Fantasy
"A good book should leave you . . . slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it." ~ William Styron
IRON HOUSE
I ran across this quotation from William Styron while in the process of reading Iron House and thought that it was particularly apt—I was more than slightly exhausted after reading this really fine thriller. I have been an admirer of John Hart's work since The King of Liars. Iron House is several steps beyond that first novel in complexity and scope.
Michael is a professional killer whose allegiance since his teenage years has been to the only father figure he has ever known, Otto Kaitlin, racketeer and killer. Michael has met a woman that he loves and gets permission from the dying Otto to get out of the "life". However, he knows that after Otto dies there are others in the organization that are not so willing to let him go. On the surface, Iron House is about what Michael has to do to make good his escape, but there is much more going on here; family, old sins coming to haunt the present and the possibility of redemption and change.
My thought at the outset was that Hart would have "a hard row to hoe" to convince me to like and root for a professional killer. However, he had me by Chapter Six. The early events of his life, and that of his brother, Julian, in the orphanage named Iron House are important pieces of the puzzle. Julian was adopted by the wife of a senator, and Michael fell into the hands of Otto Kaitlin, but Julian is by far the more wounded brother. There is literally nothing that Michael will not do to save those he loves from his enemies.
Iron House is meticulously plotted, proceeding at a breathtaking pace. The characters are well fleshed out and believable, from the wounded Julian to the wife of the sleazy senator to one of the scariest psychopaths I've ever encountered in a book. It is also extraordinarily violent but never falls into a "violence for violence's sake" trap. Why only 4 ½ stars? The only element I found missing was a sense of place. The bulk of the action takes place in North Carolina, but the events could have taken place anywhere in America where poverty, ignorance and violence meet. As a native North Carolinian, I have always enjoyed that sense of place in Hart's first three books. However, I doubt that my one small caveat will detract from any one else's enjoyment of Iron House.
Rating-4 1/2 stars
Labels: Mystery, Thriller
Hounded: The Iron Druid Chronicles
Kevin Hearne
Product Description-Atticus O'Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old—when in actuality, he's twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.
Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he's hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power—plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish—to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.
I really loved this first book of a back-to-back trilogy-it was more fun than I've had for a long time! Atticus is a great character, one who has seen it all in his twenty-one centuries of life, yet manages to keep himself young in body through his magic, and young in mind through total immersion in pop culture. He is the last of the Druids and plans to keep on living despite being on the hit list of several fae baddies, primarily Aenghus Og, the Celtic God of Love. The book opens with an ambush by fae hit men and the action never stops. Along the way we meet the Morrigan, Bridget and many others in the Celtic pantheon.
While Atticus is a strong character, the supporting cast is as well drawn and fascinating as he is. Especially his Irish Wolf Hound, Oberon, with whom he has a speaking mind bond. The exhanges between hound and master are not only humorous, but endearing. Any dog lover would enjoy the relationship, and wish for a bond like it. Full of laughs and action, this is a feast for the urban fantasy lover, despite what I saw as a couple of small holes in the plot. The best part is that the next two books are coming soon!
Rating-4 1/2 Druid Staffs
Absolutely Delicious!
BBC Audiobooks WW
Georgette Heyer, narrated by Clifford Norgate
Product Description-Rich and handsome, the hope of ambitious mothers and despair of his sisters, the Marquis of Alverstoke sees no reason to put himself out for anyone. But when a distant connection applies to him for help, he finds himself far from bored.
I have been feeding my other addiction lately, audio books, with the works of Georgette Heyer, a tremendously prolific British writer most active in the 1930s and 40s. I had read some of her mysteries years ago and found them interesting period pieces and not much more. As I was in my book snob phase at the time I turned my nose up at the label "regency romance" and never read any of her other work. Was I ever wrong! One day I was checking on Audible and noticed that her titles had glowing reviews for both the stories and the narrators. Her books are better described as comedies of manners reminiscent of Jane Austen, full of wit and charm and yes, romance. I have listened to several, but Frederica is my favorite.
The Marquis of Alverstoke, rich and easily bored, is not known for his benevolence. When he is approached by a distant relation, Frederica, and asked to sponsor her beautiful sister, Caris, in a London season, he decides to comply. This is no kindly impulse on his part-he simply wants to annoy his sisters who also have daughters to launch into the matrimonial pool. He finds Caris to be a beautiful "ninnyhammer" but to his own surprise becomes more and more involved with Frederica and her brothers, Jessamy and Felix. Having never had a happy family life, he is enchanted by the family and Frederica in particular, the one woman who never bores him.
Frederica is full of humor with many laugh out loud moments and a wonderful "happy ever after" ending. The evolution of the Marquis from a cold, selfish man to a loving one is a pleasure not to be missed, ably narrated by Clifford Norgate.
Rating- 5 Well-tied Cravats
Labels: Audio Books
The Return of Lady Julia and Brisbane
The Dark Enquiry
Lady Julia Grey Mystery
Product Description- Partners now in marriage and in trade, Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have finally returned from abroad to set up housekeeping in London. But merging their respective collections of gadgets, pets and servants leaves little room for the harried newlyweds themselves, let alone Brisbane's private enquiry business. Among the more unlikely clients: Julia's very proper brother, Lord Bellmont, who swears Brisbane to secrecy about his case. Not about to be left out of anything concerning her beloved—if eccentric—family, spirited Julia soon picks up the trail of the investigation. It leads to the exclusive Ghost Club, where the alluring Madame Séraphine holds evening séances…and not a few powerful gentlemen in thrall. From this eerie enclave unfolds a lurid tangle of dark deeds, whose tendrils crush reputations and throttle trust. Shocked to find their investigation spun into salacious newspaper headlines, bristling at the tension it causes between them, the Brisbanes find they must unite or fall. For Bellmont's they'll face myriad dangers born of dark secrets, the kind men kill to keep….
I was delighted to get the galley for The Dark Enquiry and meet Deanna Raybourn at the same time as I have been a fan of the series since the first book, Silent in the Grave. Silent in the Grave has one of the best "grabber" openings ever---"To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor". If that doesn't catch your attention, nothing will! One of the thing I enjoy most about the series is the way Ms. Raybourn plays with classic forms in her books, from whodunit to country house murder to gothic thriller.
The Dark Enquiry carries on the quality seen in the previous four books with a solid mystery and a good foundation for a long running series-I hope! The enigmatic half gypsy, half Scots Brisbane is becoming less inscrutable and more willing to show his feelings. Julia is becoming his investigative partner in truth, yet coming to understand why Brisbane is often overbearingly protective of her. So often a series with a romantic partnership comes to a halt after marriage, but I think Ms. Raybourn has jumped that hurdle. Both Julia and Brisbane are so complex that I can foresee enough complications to keep me interested.
Some, but not all of Julia's huge and eccentric family make an appearance and "The Mad Marches" are as entertaining and exasperating as ever. However, I do miss Monk, Brisbane's former mentor and majordomo. Hopefully, we will see more of him in the future.
By the way, if you are an audio book fan, the audible download editions are excellent and highly recommended.
Rating- 5 Gypsy Violins
Posted by omnireader at 11:00 AM 1 comment:
I was really delighted to receive this ARC from St. Martins, as paranormal romance/fantasy is just about my favorite brain candy. What a fresh and unexpected spin on the genre First Grave on the Right is, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Charley Davidson is a P.I. in New Mexico and also THE Grim Reaper-not one with cape and scythe, but a grim reaper who shines brightly and is tasked with persuading the recently dead to cross over into the next world. In the course of her work she is occasionally called on to solve the murder of those recently killed. The book begins with the murders of three law partners who call on Charlie to solve their deaths before crossing over. In the course of her investigation she runs into some extremely nasty corporeal beings and encounters with the Big Bad (a hooded entity who has has saved her life several times)who just may be the man of her dreams.
Charley is a wonderful character, full of heart and humor. She is surrounded by a supporting cast of friends and family, most of whom I'd like to meet again in future books. Cookie, her assistant, is just about the best friend anyone could wish for. Then there is Reyes, the mystery man she has meet before in the flesh and thinks is now visiting her in her dreams.
The only reason I hesitated to give First Grave on the Right a full five stars was that I found the "world building" in the first part of the novel a little slow paced for my tastes. I will give it 4 1/2 stars though and say I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fast paced, paranormal read.
Rating- 4 1/2 scythes
Historical Fiction at Its' Best--With a Touch of Romance
The Winter Sea
Susanna Kearsley
Product Description: In the spring of 1708, an invading Jacobite fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown.Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors and starts to write.But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory, making her the only living person who knows the truth-the ultimate betrayal-that happened all those years ago, and that knowledge comes very close to destroying her...
Susanna Kearsley is most often described as the logical heir to Daphne DuMaurier, Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt. As a young adult I discovered the books of all three of those great ladies and was immediately launched into many, many hours of happy reading. To a small-town North Carolina girl, they epitomized romance and intrigue in far-away times and places. They also made me into a life-long anglophile.
I was completely enthralled by The Winter Sea from the very first page. Kearsley has successfully woven two stories, one from the past and one in the present, no small task for a writer. I was very familiar with the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, but not that of 1708. Kearsley obviously does her research, with historical figures appearing throughout, but her story is built around ordinary people caught up in great events. The story of Sophia touches the heart and will stay with you for a long time. I am not ashamed to say that I wept with both sorrow and joy in the course of this magical novel. I also acquired a burning desire to see the real Slains Castle!
Rating-5 Hearts
Labels: Historical Fiction
The Aftermath of World War I
The Return of Captain John Emmett by Elizabeth Speller is both an engrossing mystery and a look at the aftermath of WWI in England that "grabbed" me at the beginning and kept me guessing until the end.
Laurence Bartram has returned to England, having lost both wife and child in childbirth while he was away fighting in the trenches of France. Most of his contemporaries have either been killed in battle or irrevocably changed. Lawrence himself is adrift and aimless, alienated from everyone except his bluff old school friend, Charles. Another old school friend's sister, Mary Emmett, writes to him in the hope that he can help her understand the purported suicide of her brother John. Captain John Emmett was AWOL from a convalescent hospital specializing in the treatment of shell-shocked veterans. While Laurence doesn't think he can help Mary, he is interested enough in Mary, as well as John's suicide to start asking questions. With Charles' help the investigation proceeds, revolving around a military execution that Captain Emmett was forced to lead. Almost all the surviving participants in the firing squad have met violent ends after the war.
The mystery of Captain Emmett's death is very well plotted with enough red herrings to satisfy "who done it" fans. However, I found the evocation of the period most compelling, as well as the illumination of that most bankrupt of British Army practices, the execution of traumatized soldiers for cowardice.
I would highly recommend The Return of Captain John Emmett to fans of Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge series and Jacqueline Winspear's Maizie Dobbs series.
Long Awaited and Worth It
Product Description- The latest installment of Julia Spencer-Fleming's Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries revolves around Rev. Clare's return to Millers Kill after an 18 month deployment as a helicopter pilot serving in Iraq. Among those who have also returned are Eric McCrea of the Millers Kill PD who tries to control his explosive anger; Will Ellis, dealing with the effects of double amputation; Orthopedist Trip Stillman, denying the seriousness of his traumatic brain injury; and bookkeeper Tally McNabb who is guilty over an in-country affair and worse. But coming home is much harder than any of them could have imagined. One vet will struggle with addiction, one will lose his family and friends and one will die.
Wow, it was a long wait for this one, but it is probably her best. Clare just wants to come home to Russ and pick up where she left off, but Iraq and its' aftereffects derail her. The bond between she and Russ has been forged through adversity and remains strong, but is severely tested. The real strength of the series has always been its' characters with Russ and Clare at its' emotional center. Spencer-Fleming's portrayal of two decent people dealing with moral dilemma has been masterful throughout the series. Many old favorites reappear and new ones are introduced, all fully fleshed out. I wouldn't attempt One Was a Soldier if you have not read the rest of the series, beginning with In the Bleak Midwinter. I highly recommend One Was a Soldier and can't wait for the next one. Once again it ends with a great big cliff-hanger that takes the breath away. I can wait however, if need be for another book as well written as this one!
Rating-5 stars
Posted by omnireader at 10:59 AM No comments:
The Joys of Free kindle downloads.
For many moons I dug in my heels and said "only paper and ink will do for me". However when I received my first kindle as a gift, I changed my tune pretty darn quick. Not only are they easy to carry around and store an unbelievable number of books, eBooks have that whole instant gratification thing going on. Just click and you have the book you want at whatever hour of the day or night you might want it. All the major purveyors also have free downloads of many classics and an ever changing list of more recent publications, often back list volumes of ongoing series. Of course, this is just good business-offering a free book in the the hopes of getting new readers for the entire series which are not free, needless to say. At this point I own an embarrassing number of reading devices and am thinking now of chucking them all and combining everything on one tablet device by way of the free reading apps. You take a risk on some of the free stuff, but occasionally you find a gem that otherwise you might have missed. The following is my most recent free download that was worth the storage space and then some.
Bound by the Heart
Marsha Canham
Amazon Digital Services
Product Description: In this swashbuckling adventure Captain Morgan Wade, a notorious privateer and blockade-runner, rescues, then kidnaps the daughter of the British governor of Barbados after she and her brother are shipwrecked. Summer Cambridge is betrothed to Wade's arch-enemy, Commodore Bennett Winfield, who will go to any lengths, even start a war between two countries to get her back.
Bound by the Heart starts out with a bang with the shipwreck and rescue of Summer and her brother by Captain Morgan Wade. Summer is a spoiled society favorite whose sense of entitlement is truly awesome, rivaled only by the equally awesome arrogance of Wade himself. At bottom though, Summer is determined to protect her younger brother and her own reputation and that of her family. After some epic clashes and misunderstandings, Summer and Wade are no longer able to deny the attraction between them. However they are unable to trust each other so Wade fulfills his promise to return her to her father and betrothed.
The action and adventure of Bound by the Heart is non-stop. While I know pretty much nothing about naval battles of the era, this book has it all; narrow escapes, spectacular sailing, chases, duels-you name it. Plus not only one but two villains you love to hate and a colorful cast of supporting characters round out what I call a rattling good read.
Rating- 4 Rattling Sabers
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This is not a trip we offer commercially, but it is one that all of our guides enjoy on their own time. This video shows the most tecnical stretch of river through the Narrows aproximately 12 miles below the town of Deckers. Boaters should use caution when entering this section and should do it first with someone who has rowed it before. If you are going to do it, here are a few quick tips….
1. The first drop going into the chutes is relatively strait forward at flows below 300. At flows higher than 300 a lateral wave wants to push you sideways over the drop which could get you into trouble. You may want to consider reversing over the drop if you are having difficulty lining it up nose forward.
2. You have room and calm water to eye up the chute before you enter, but once you're in, the top section comes really fast. There is no room to get a fairy angle, so you will need to stay tight river left, and skully hard with the left oar and ship the right oar. The waive train is going to pull you hard into the wall on the right and you will make with it. Try and hit it strait on and you will bounce right off no problem. At higher flows, you have more room to work but make sure not to slam into it sideways. If you do hit it on the side, get to the high side.
3. If things go wrong, get away from the boat, whitewater position, and you will have plenty of recovery room below once you are out of the chutes.


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Oregon college shooting
Trump: mass-shooting gunmen are 'sick as hell and geniuses in a certain way'
Comments come days after nine killed at Oregon community college
At rally, Trump invokes Charles Bronson vigilante movie Death Wish
Ben Jacobs in Washington
@Bencjacobs
Sun 4 Oct 2015 10.47 EDT First published on Sun 4 Oct 2015 09.00 EDT
Donald Trump speaks at an event on Saturday in Franklin, Tennessee. Photograph: Mark Zaleski/AP
Three days after a gunman killed nine people at an Oregon community college and then shot himself dead, the Republican presidential frontrunner, Donald Trump, seemed to accept the inevitability of mass shootings in the US.
994 mass shootings in 1,004 days: this is what America's gun crisis looks like
In a rare sit-down interview, for broadcast on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, Trump told Chuck Todd: "I have to say, no matter what you do, you're gonna have problems.
"Because you have sick people. They happen to be intelligent. And, you know, they can be sick as hell and they're geniuses in a certain way. They are going to be able to break the system."
The New York real-estate billionaire, who boasts of possessing a concealed carry permit, said he did not see the need for increased firearms regulations after the mass shooting in Oregon.
He amplified the argument in an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week, saying: "The gun laws have nothing to do with this. This is mental illness."
At a rally in suburban Nashville on Saturday, Trump mentioned his New York state handgun carry permit and added that anyone who attacked him would be "shocked", because he would emulate Charles Bronson in the vigilante film Death Wish.
"I'm a very, very big second amendment person," Trump said in Tennessee. "This is about self-defense, plain and simple."
Trump reminisced about the Bronson-starring 1974 film and got people in the crowd to shout out the title in unison. In the movie, an affluent, liberal architect embarks on a vigilante mission after his wife is killed and his daughter raped.
"Today you can't make that movie because it's not politically correct," Trump said.
Speaking to NBC, Trump said those US jurisdictions with "the strongest, the most stringent laws [on gun control] are in almost every case the worst places. It doesn't seem to work."
Instead, at both rally and in the interview, as on the day of the shooting, the Republican frontrunner blamed mental illness for such shootings as that at Umpqua Community College.
Trump also defended his newly introduced tax plan, which independent economists estimate will cost $12tn over 10 years, by noting his ability to cut costs. He pointed to transportation as one place where he could save money.
"I look at the cost of a road where they're gonna spend $600m building a simple road," said Trump. "And I don't mean I'm gonna save you a little bit. We're gonna bring in … you're gonna build a better road. You're gonna have a better road for a fraction of the cost."
Oregon shooting: Jeb Bush says 'stuff happens' as left calls for gun control
Speaking to ABC, Trump also pushed back against those who have said he himself would save a significant amount of money under his tax plan. He claimed instead that the major tax cut in his plan would hurt him financially. Under the current tax code, Trump said, "I have very big deductions, some of them are ridiculous."
He also hit back when NBC's Todd pointed to polls which have him losing by a landslide to both vice-president Joe Biden and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders in any such general election matchup.
Trump, who has long touted his poll numbers in the Republican primary, said: "I haven't focused on Bernie Sanders."
He added: "I've been a guy that wins most of the time. And if I don't win, I make it into a win."
US elections 2016


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GiantsCountry
Eagles: Eli Manning "Jazzes Up" the Giants
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Patricia Traina
Regardless of how long a high ankle sprain sidelines Daniel Jones, he is the franchise's future whose tenure began perhaps a little bit earlier than anyone anticipated.
While Jones has had his ups and downs in cutting is teeth, unfortunately, the Giants have struggled.
The run blocking and pass protection have regressed, the team's top skill position players—Saquon Barkley, receivers Golden Tate, and Sterling Shepard, and tight end Evan Engram—have yet to be active at the same time, and the play-calling has left something to be desired.
But this week, the offense will be under the leadership of Eli Manning, the long-time franchisee starter who was demoted to backup after the team began 0-2.
Manning, who this year is 56 of 89 (62.9%) for 556 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, has been taking the first-team reps in practice while Jones, whose right foot is still in a protective walking boot, is doing everything he can to get back before the end of the season.
Although Manning doesn't offer mobility, his return to the lineup can bring a different dimension that the Giants, desperate to avoid losing their ninth game in a row, haven't had with the rookie: a veteran presence who has seen it all.
"Eli—he's a legend. He's a Hall of Famer. He just sees the field so well," said running back Saquon Barkley.
"He understands the game so well, he's been doing it for a very long time, and it's what you expect from Eli."
While no one will mistake Manning for the more mobile Jones, Manning's experience could provide a bit of a jolt to a Giants offense that, after eclipsing 350 yards in each of his first two starts this season, has struggled to move the ball, hitting the 300-yard mark four times.
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Eagles defensive back Malcolm Jenkins said there is a very noticeable difference in the playing styles of both Jones and Manning, and that because of that difference, the Eagles defense might find it a bit trickier to fool the veteran.
"I think Jones is a little more mobile, holds the ball a little longer, and looks for those throws down the field, whereas Eli is really better when he can get the ball out of his hands quick. He knows how to read the blitzes and knows where to go with the ball," he said.
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, once a backup quarterback in the NFL, believes that Manning will "jazz up" and motivate the football team.
"One of Eli's strengths is how he distributes the football to multiple people, and that's something that he's been able to do throughout his career and be successful," Pederson said.
"I think it's something that Eli has probably sat and watched and observed, and he's going to use that to his advantage."
Despite Manning's presence behind center, don't expect the Giants offense to change too much.
"It doesn't change anything; it's not like our offense changed so much," Barkley said. "I remember when D.J. became the starting quarterback and all you guys were like, 'Oh, what's this? This is going to be different.' No. We're still going to be able to run RPOs, and we're still going to have the same offense, the same scheme.
"At the end of the day, even though it's the same scheme, we've got to execute better. That's what we haven't been doing in these previous weeks in this losing streak, and we've got to do that this week."
Giants Coaching Updates: Giants Reportedly Add Four New Assistant Coaches
It was a busy day of Senior Bowl practices and assistant coaching hires for Giants head coach Joe Judge.
TonyBologna1776
Unit Review | More Pass Rushers, Please
The Giants pass rush had one of its better seasons in the last three years, but there is still a long way to go.
Draft Prospect Preview | LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
The Giants need a playmaker on defense. Simmons has all the tools to be that play maker.
Ahmed Shifa
Giants Unit Review: The D-line Steps Up
If there was a bright spot on the Giants 2019 defensive unit, the defensive line was it.
What the Giants Offense Might Look Like Under Jason Garrett
The Giants will probably move from running a mostly West Coast Offense toward an Air Coryell system. But there will be mixtures of elements as Joe Judge and new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett look to create a multiple offensive attack.
StresmmUrchin
Draft Prospect Preview | OT Andrew Thomas, Georgia
Who are some names to watch for the Giants in this year's draft? We'll be taking a look at some of them in the days leading up to the draft.
Senior Bowl Prospects That Could Be Fits for the Giants
The Senior Bowl practices begin Tuesday. The Giants will be in attendance and they'll likely be looking at all of the prospects, but here is a short list of some of the more intriguing candidates on whom they might place a strong focus.
Report: Marc Colombo to Interview for Giants Offensive Line Coach Position
Colombo could end up reuniting with Jason Garrett in New York if hired.
Giants Unit Review: The Curious Case of the Receivers
A look at how the Giants receiving unit fared in its first year without Odell Beckham Jr.
Darius Slayton Eyes a Big Jump in Year 2
The Giants rookie receiver was one of the biggest bright spots in a lost season but believes he can be even better in Year 2.
Pat Ragazzo


The Miami FC's preseason schedule continued, Saturday evening, with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
The first half was evenly matched with neither side taking control of the match. The Rowdies were the first to get into the attack. Two early corners and a shot put goal keeper Daniel Vega in to action, but he was up to the task.
Michel and Blake Smith combined well on the left side, pushing the Orange and Blue forward. Miami's first chance came thanks to a solid cross from Hunter Freeman. Freeman's pass found Stefano Pinho rushing into the box but he could not bring down the pass.
The rest of the first half would see a vicious battle in the midfield as the two squads battled to control possession.
The Orange and Blue started firing on all cylinders in the second half and the goals followed. Michel continued to put pressure on the Rowdies defense with his precise passing and dangerous shots.
Vega came up big again in early in the half, stuffing a point-blank 1v1 chance to maintain Miami's momentum.
Midway through the second half Pinho exploded for two quick goals.
The first came after he quickly reacted to a deflected pass, finding acres of space once the ball was at his feet. He then calmly slipped the ball past the Rowdies keeper and two on-rushing defenders.
Minutes later Poku slipped a ball through the Tampa backline right to the feet of Pinho, who proceeded to put the ball between the keeper's legs for his second goal.
Late in the match, the Rowdies were called for a foul in the box, giving the Miami FC a penalty shot. Vincenzo Rennella stepped up to the spot and slotted the ball in the back of the net, securing a 3-0 victory for the Miami FC.


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La famiglia Polygonaceae (Juss. 1789) è un gruppo di Angiosperme Dicotiledoni e comprende circa 50 generi e 1120 specie diffuse per lo più nelle regioni temperate boreali. Appartengono a questa famiglia: il grano saraceno, il rabarbaro, i romici. Probabilmente il nome della famiglia (poly = molti; gonium = angolo) fa riferimento alla forma del frutto che è angoloso.

Descrizione
Comprende specie per lo più erbacee perenni (ma anche cespugli e piccoli alberi), monoiche o dioiche.
Le foglie sono alterne, semplici provviste di un'ocrea (una guaina membranosa avvolgente il fusto).
I fiori, ermafroditi o unisessuali, sono attinomorfi e riuniti in infiorescenze. Possono avere un perigonio con elementi sepaloidi (es. Rumex), in relazione all'impollinazione di tipo anemogamo, o di tipo petaloide (es. Polygonum ), in specie entomogame.  L'ovario è supero tricarpellare e uniloculare.
Il frutto è un achenio.

Tassonomia
Nel Sistema Cronquist le Polygonaceae venivano assegnate, come unica famiglia, all'ordine delle Polygonales.

Sistemi più moderni, come l'APG IV, le includono invece nell'ordine delle Caryophyllales.

Le Polygonaceae sono ripartite in due sottofamiglie:
 Polygonoideae caratterizzate dalla presenza dell'ocrea e comprendente 28 generi ed 800 specie
 Eriogonoideae con circa 330 specie esclusive delle Americhe.

Usi
La famiglia comprende specie di interesse agrario quali:
il grano saraceno (Fagopyrum esculentum) importante coltura nelle regioni alpine
il genere Rheum (i rabarbari) dalle cui radici vengono estratti principi amari usati in farmacia e liquoreria.
Alcune specie spontanee (ad. es. specie del genere Rumex, le acetoselle) vengono consumate in zuppe o aggiunte alle insalate.

Alcune specie di Rheum  vengono inoltre coltivate come specie ornamentali.

Galleria d'immagini

Note

Voci correlate
 Lapazio
 Coccoloba

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

 Polygonaceae  in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, information retrieval.  http://delta-intkey.com

Taxa classificati da Antoine-Laurent de Jussieu

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


School mornings are tough. One minute I think I have it all together, the next minute my son decides to play his sister's recorder instead of eating breakfast!
The back to school season is a popular time for moms and dads to make resolutions. I want to make my morning routine run more seamlessly and keep all of my kids' papers organized. According to a survey by Nutri-Grain, 84% of parents make resolutions ahead of the new school year, but 63% break them within the first few months. To stay on track, parents have done some hilarious things. 52% of dads admit their personal grooming entails shaving during morning commute, while 62% (vs. 51% of moms) are more likely to bribe their children to stay on track of their resolutions.
Nutri-Grain bars have always been a staple in our morning routine. In order to keep families moving through back to school mornings at the speed of life, they have started the #RealMorning campaign for this school year. It aims to highlight these real parenting moments and interesting stats to encourage parents to not skip breakfast and instead grab a portable, easy and delicious breakfast on the go.
I'd love to see what your morning looks like. Snap a photo and share it with #RealMorning.


We hadn't paid attention to the news. It was too late to leave. So we were ill-prepared when Hurricane Celia slammed into Corpus Christi.
I was only 3 years old on August 3, 1970, but my memories are vivid. We sat in the hallway in the middle of the house, closed all the doors, and I ate animal crackers while my stepdad played the guitar.
All the while, I heard what sounded like freight trains encircling outside our house.
After the storm, the neighborhood looked like a war zone. Amazingly, our house was one of the only ones untouched, although 80% of the city's buildings got damaged.
My swing set was lodged up in the trees.
Every wooden fence fell flat.
The National Guard came in to Corpus Christi to prevent looting and to enforce a curfew.
Here's a video of the hurricane and its aftermath (best turn your sound off).
Because every fence in our neighborhood lay flat, all the neighbors had one large yard—with no separation. Until the electricity came back on, each evening different neighbors would open their deep freezes and everybody ate barbecue!
My stepdad spent hours with our neighbor as they helped each other clean the yards and rebuild the fences.
Well, I'll see you next hurricane.
The aftermath of Hurricane Celia brought these lessons and observations to mind.
God may allow something drastic to tear down the fences between us and to get us to reach out to one another (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).
We really do have time to assist others, and when we do, we're glad (Acts 20:35).
We need to look to the needs of others and not just ourselves (Philippians 2:4).
"Acts of God," disasters, and trials can bring out the best in people—character you would never have otherwise seen (Genesis 44:16, 33).
Sometimes I wonder if we could avert more disaster if we lived this way all the time.
Tell me what you think: What lessons have disasters taught you? To leave a comment, just click here.